Story highlights Cartel leader extradited on eve of Trump inaugurationGuzman has been in custody for about a year(CNN) Drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who became a legend in Mexico through his dramatic prison escapes and years of staying just ahead of the law, was extradited Thursday and transported to the United States. Mexican authorities wanted to turn over Guzman, head of the Sinaloa cartel, before Friday's inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, a US official told CNN. A court in Mexico City on Thursday denied Guzman's appeal of the extradition. Guzman was picked up by a team from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and US marshals. "El Chapo" is expected to appear Friday in a courtroom in Brooklyn, where he is expected to stand trial at a later date.

Source: CNN January 19, 2017 22:55 UTC